Significance of SEM Analysis in Short-Term and Long-Term Strength of Stabilized Adobes

Abstract

This study aims to emphasize the importance of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in explaining the differences in the physical and mechanical behaviours of the short-term (cured for 28 days) and long-term (cured up to 540 days) strength properties of stabilized adobe. The study has been carried out for Stabilized Adobe of 15% and 10% clay content with stabilizers cement, lime and combination of cement-lime. SEM is an essential feature of numerous microstructural analyses, as it allows for the observation of the soil microstructure, which is composed of clay particles and additives. This work discusses the studies based on the microstructural properties of the stabilized adobe with SEM analysis. The conducted research indicates that the inexplicable physical or mechanical behaviour can be elucidated by the microstructural characteristics of clay particles and additives.